VerseAI

NIV

Psalms 35

  1. 1<pb/><e>Of David.</e> <pb/><t>Contend, LORD, with those who contend with me;</t> <t>fight against those who fight against me.</t>
  2. 2<t>Take up shield and armor;</t> <t>arise and come to my aid.</t>
  3. 3<t>Brandish spear and javelin<f>[54]</f></t> <t>against those who pursue me.</t> <t>Say to me,</t> <t>“I am your salvation.” <pb/></t>
  4. 4<t>May those who seek my life</t> <t>be disgraced and put to shame;</t> <t>may those who plot my ruin</t> <t>be turned back in dismay.</t>
  5. 5<t>May they be like chaff before the wind,</t> <t>with the angel of the LORD driving them away;</t>
  6. 6<t>may their path be dark and slippery,</t> <t>with the angel of the LORD pursuing them. <pb/></t>
  7. 7<t>Since they hid their net for me without cause</t> <t>and without cause dug a pit for me,</t>
  8. 8<t>may ruin overtake them by surprise—</t> <t>may the net they hid entangle them,</t> <t>may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.</t>
  9. 9<t>Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD</t> <t>and delight in his salvation.</t>
  10. 10<t>My whole being will exclaim,</t> <t>“Who is like you, LORD?</t> <t>You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,</t> <t>the poor and needy from those who rob them.” <pb/></t>
  11. 11<t>Ruthless witnesses come forward;</t> <t>they question me on things I know nothing about.</t>
  12. 12<t>They repay me evil for good</t> <t>and leave me like one bereaved.</t>
  13. 13<t>Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth</t> <t>and humbled myself with fasting.</t> <t>When my prayers returned to me unanswered,</t>
  14. 14<t>I went about mourning</t> <t>as though for my friend or brother.</t> <t>I bowed my head in grief</t> <t>as though weeping for my mother.</t>
  15. 15<t>But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;</t> <t>assailants gathered against me without my knowledge.</t> <t>They slandered me without ceasing.</t>
  16. 16<t>Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked;<f>[55]</f></t> <t>they gnashed their teeth at me. <pb/></t>
  17. 17<t>How long, Lord, will you look on?</t> <t>Rescue me from their ravages,</t> <t>my precious life from these lions.</t>
  18. 18<t>I will give you thanks in the great assembly;</t> <t>among the throngs I will praise you.</t>
  19. 19<t>Do not let those gloat over me</t> <t>who are my enemies without cause;</t> <t>do not let those who hate me without reason</t> <t>maliciously wink the eye.</t>
  20. 20<t>They do not speak peaceably,</t> <t>but devise false accusations</t> <t>against those who live quietly in the land.</t>
  21. 21<t>They sneer at me and say, “Aha! Aha!</t> <t>With our own eyes we have seen it.” <pb/></t>
  22. 22<t>LORD, you have seen this; do not be silent.</t> <t>Do not be far from me, Lord.</t>
  23. 23<t>Awake, and rise to my defense!</t> <t>Contend for me, my God and Lord.</t>
  24. 24<t>Vindicate me in your righteousness, LORD my God;</t> <t>do not let them gloat over me.</t>
  25. 25<t>Do not let them think, “Aha, just what we wanted!”</t> <t>or say, “We have swallowed him up.” <pb/></t>
  26. 26<t>May all who gloat over my distress</t> <t>be put to shame and confusion;</t> <t>may all who exalt themselves over me</t> <t>be clothed with shame and disgrace.</t>
  27. 27<t>May those who delight in my vindication</t> <t>shout for joy and gladness;</t> <t>may they always say, “The LORD be exalted,</t> <t>who delights in the well-being of his servant.” <pb/></t>
  28. 28<t>My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,</t> <t>your praises all day long.</t>